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Dolph Lundgren believes his shared abusive childhood helped him better understand Sylvester Stallone throughout their 40-year friendship.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Lundgren – who recently released his documentary “Dolph: Unbreakable” – explained the gratitude he has for the “Rocky” star after he “resurrected” his career.
“I think part of what’s kept it going is I always have been very grateful to him and loving towards him. We’ve had our ups and downs, but I think, you know, he’s discovered a lot of new talent and I think some of them perhaps haven’t been as grateful maybe as some others, and I’ve always paid my respects to him because he’s responsible not just for ‘Rocky IV’ but ‘The Expendables.’ I did four of those movies, which resurrected my career,” Lundgren began.
Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren have had a friendship that has spanned four decades. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
He continued, “I hadn’t been on the big screen for 25 years when I did ‘Expendables.'”
SYLVESTER STALLONE SHARES HARROWING NEW DETAILS ABOUT ABUSIVE CHILDHOOD
Lundgren went on to share that Stallone is a “complicated guy,” but he understands him.
WATCH: Dolph Lundgren opens up about the ‘ups and downs’ in his friendship with Sylvester Stallone
“I’ve always appreciated him. I always understood him. I know he’s a complicated guy, but we have a similar background, so I always knew where he was coming from, which I think he knows. And I think also, it got more emotional, and I believe that I have a feeling that you know, he’s also opened up like I have over the years about his upbringing and what he’s gone through,” Lundgren said.
Dolph Lundgren and Sylvester Stallone on the set of “Rocky IV.” (Getty Images)
The actor said the parallels in their lives go deeper than a shared abusive childhood.
“We have daughters; he has three, I got two. And you know if you think about it, who can you… if you’re an action star, who had an abusive childhood, who has three daughters, who has a ton of injuries… Who can understand you? There’s not that many people you can talk to,” Lundgren said.
The star explained that there is only Arnold Schwarzenegger left that could possibly understand his and Stallone’s upbringing and life story.
“I know he’s a complicated guy, but we have a similar background, so I always knew where he was coming from, which I think he knows.”
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Stallone and Lundgren’s friendship has had its share of ups and downs since they met while making “Rocky IV.” Stallone told Jimmy Fallon in 2019 on The Tonight Show that he initially disliked Lundgren because he seemed “too perfect,” but the two eventually became friends and worked together again on “The Expendables” films.
In a September interview with Los Angeles Magazine, Lundgren said they had a “little falling out” over the proposed “Drago” spin-off, but Stallone reached out after learning Lundgren had cancer, and they are now close again.
Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren attended the world premiere of “Rocky Balboa” in 2006. (E. Charbonneau/WireImage for MGM)
After beating cancer and surviving childhood abuse, Lundgren is now turning his sights on his own documentary.
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Speaking to Fox News Digital, Lundgren explained that his newly released documentary is an ability for fans to see the man underneath the armor.
WATCH: Dolph Lundgren opens up about his life and career in ‘Dolph: Unbreakable’
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“I wanted people to see, to put together the puzzle of how, why did I play those characters and why did I end up being unbreakable, or at least appear to be unbreakable,” he began. “It was all my personal journey. And I think hopefully other people may be able to relate to some of that.”
Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Jean Claude Van Damme will be making appearances in the new documentary. According to a synopsis, “Dolph: Unbreakable” will include interviews with the three men, as well as home videos and archival photos, to show a “a raw and revealing portrait” of Lundgren.
Dolph Lundgren in his documentary “Dolph: Unbreakable.” (Famous Red Car Pictures Inc.)
The documentary, “Dolph: Unbreakable” released on VOD and digital platforms on Oct. 6, 2026.
